Gorgoneion
In Ancient Greece , the Gorgoneion was originally a horror-creating apotropaic
pendant showing the Gorgon's head.
It was assimilated by the Olympian deities Zeus and Athena: both are said to
have worn it as a protective pendant.
It was assumed, among other godlike attributes, as a royal aegis, by rulers of
the Hellenistic age, as shown, for instance, on the Alexander Mosaic and the Gonzaga Cameo.
Homer refers to the Gorgon on four occasions, each time alluding to the head alone,
as if the creature had no body. Jane Ellen Harrison notes that "Medusa is a head and nothing
more...a mask with a body later appended".
Up to the 5th century BC, the head was depicted as particularly ugly, with a protruding tongue, boar tusks,
puffy cheeks, her eyeballs staring fixedly on the viewer and the snakes twisting all around her.
The direct frontal stare, "seemingly looking out from its own iconographical context and directly challenging
the viewer", was highly unusual in ancient Greek art. In some instances a beard (probably standing for
streaks of blood) was appended to her chin, making her appear as an orgiastic deity akin to Dionysus.
Gorgoneia that decorate the shields of warriors on mid-5th century Greek vases are considerably less
grotesque and menacing. By that time, the Gorgon had lost her tusks and the snakes were rather stylized.
The Hellenistic marble known as the Medusa Rondanini illustrates the Gorgon's eventual transformation
into a beautiful woman.
Medusa, the gorgon , was beheaded by the hero Perseus , who thereafter used her
head, which retained its ability to turn onlookers to stone, as a weapon until he gave
it to the goddess Athena to place on her shield .
In classical antiquity the image of the head of Medusa appeared in the evil-averting
device known as the Gorgoneion . Gorgons were a popular image in Greek mythology,
appearing in the earliest of written records of Ancient Greek religious beliefs such as
those of Homer , which may date to as early as 1194–1184 BC.
Because of their legendary and powerful gaze that could turn one to stone, images of
the Gorgons were put upon objects and buildings for protection.
The modern concept of doing something "under someone's aegis" means doing
something under the protection of a powerful, knowledgeable, or benevolent source.
The word aegis is identified with protection by a strong force with its roots in Greek
mythology and adopted by the Romans; there are parallels in Norse mythology and
in Egyptian mythology as well, where the Greek word aegis is applied by extension.
Amisos was a flourishing Greek city on the Black Sea coast commanding an important
trade route to the south, Amisos was founded in the 6th century B.C. It was re-settled by
Athenians in the following century and they renamed the place Peiraeus.
In Greek mythology , Nike was a goddess who personified victory , also known as the
Winged Goddess of Victory. The Roman equivalent was Victoria . Depending upon the time
of various myths, she was described as the daughter of Pallas (Titan) and Styx (Water) and
the sister of Kratos (Strength), Bia (Force), and Zelus (Zeal).
Nike and her siblings were close companions of Zeus , the dominant deity of the Greek
pantheon .
According to classical (later) myth, Styx brought them to Zeus when the god was assembling
allies for the Titan War against the older deities. Nike assumed the role of the divine
charioteer , a role in which she often is portrayed in Classical Greek art. Nike flew around
battlefields rewarding the victors with glory and fame.
Nike is seen with wings in most statues and paintings. Most other winged deities in the
Greek pantheon had shed their wings by Classical times. Nike is the goddess of strength,
speed, and victory. Nike was a very close acquaintance of Athena , and is thought to have
stood in Athena's outstretched hand in the statue of Athena located in the Parthenon.
Nike is one of the most commonly portrayed figures on Greek coins..
The aegis or aigis, as stated in the Iliad , is carried by Athena and Zeus , but its nature
is uncertain. It had been interpreted as an animal skin or a shield , sometimes bearing the
head of a Gorgon .
There may be a connection with a deity named Aex or Aix, a daughter of Helios and a
nurse of Zeus or alternatively a mistress of Zeus (Pseudo-Hyginus, Astronomica 2. 13).
The aegis of Athena is referred to in several places in the Iliad.
It produced a sound as from a myriad roaring dragons (Iliad, 4.17) and was borne by
Athena in battle "... and among them went bright-eyed Athene, holding the precious aegis
which is ageless and immortal: a hundred tassels of pure gold hang fluttering from it,
tight-woven each of them, and each the worth of a hundred oxen."
Owl are the oldest living birds, and their origin has been traced back to 60 million years ago.They have been featured in almost all ancient mythologies.
From as far back as the Paleolithic era, owls have been found in cave paintings, often as an
object of mystery.
Historians theorize that the owls strange calls at night contributed to superstitions in those times.
The oldest specimens found show that the bird has not changed much, and this is perhaps due to
the fitness of its features as a successful bird of prey. Its capability of night vision, silent flight,
strong claws, and excellent plumage contributes to its survival skills.
Only a few cave drawings have been found relating to birds, and the owl is one of them.
An owl is also an international, cultural icon. There seems to be an agreement on the intellect of the bird,
but there is a lot of controversy about its sight or sound being a good or bad omen. In many societies,
such as ancient Roman folklore, owls were considered harbingers of death if they hooted while perched
on a roof, and placing one of its feathers near someone sleeping could prompt him or her to speak and
reveal their secrets...
While the Ancient Greeks commonly reproduced Owls by Athenians in vases, weights and prize
amphoras for the Panathenaic Games. The owl of Athena even became the common obverse of the
Athenian tetradrachms after 510 BC and according to Philochorus, the Athenian tetradrachm was known
as glaux ( little owl) throughout the ancient world and "owl" in present-day numismatics.
They were not, however, used exclusively by them to represent Athena and were even used for motivation
during battles by other Greek cities, such as in the victory of Agathocles of Syracuse over the Carthaginians
in 310 BC—in which owls flying through the ranks were interpreted as Athena's blessing—
or in the Battle of Salamis, chronicled in Plutarch's biography of Themistocles...
Owls are the most-sought-after birds by sorcerers, tribal medicine men, bird watchers, artists,
environmentalists, and those who write mythologies.
The owl is the favorite bird of Athena, the goddess of wisdom in Greek mythology. The city of Athens is
named after her. Athena’s owl ‘Bubo’ is shown perched on her shoulder. Zeus asked Athena to hand over
her beloved bird to Perseus, but she did not want to part with her owl.
She was also bound to comply with the instructions of Zeus. So, with the help of Hephaestus, she made
an exact replica of the owl in iron and brass to serve the purpose.
The coins of Athens had the figure of an owl embossed upon them.
Athena was the patron deity of Athens and known for her bright eyes and far sightedness.
Persephone, while living in the underworld, was allowed by Pluto to leave and go to the outer world
provided that she did not eat the prohibited fruit. Askalaphos, son of Styx informed the gods that she
had eaten the pomegranate. For this disclosure, he was punished by Demeter who turned him into a
spotted lizard and buried him under a stone. Herakles released him, but Persephone, to avenge the
disclosure by Askalaphos, transformed him into an owl, and since then he remains unchanged and living
in dark like the underworld.
______________________________________________________________________ The Coin: A very pleasing example of a Ancient Greek coin it saw some use before it found a safe place to wait out the centuries. Always Guaranteed Authentic, I have never knowingly sold a copy or reproduction! As grading is subjective please Judge the coin photos to determine this for yourself. Personalized COA Included Photos are of the actual coin that you will receive..! Authenticity is guaranteed or your 100% money back. Please ask any question before you bid. If there is any issue pertaining to your order from us , please message us directly and we will resolve the matter as timely & smoothly as possible, we strive to remain free from any negative feedback. Certificate of Authenticity--(COA): What is a certificate of authenticity and what guarantees do you give that the item is authentic? Several of the Ancient Coins sold here are provided with a Certificate of Authenticity, and a Lifetime Guarantee of Authenticity , issued by the owner and Art-antique enthusiast that has identified thousands of ancient coins and has provided them with the same guarantee. You will be very happy the relevant information and a picture of your coin that is purchased in this listing. Additionally, the coin is inside it's own protective coin flip (holder). On the free-market such a presentation alone, can be considered a $25-$50 value all in itself, and it comes standard with your purchases from me, FREE. With every purchase, Whether your goal is to collect or give the item as a gift, coins presented like this could be more prized and valued higher than items that were not given with such care and attention. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Payment info: Payment should be sent within 3 business days from the auction's end. We accept PayPal in $USD Return policy: I offer 30 day money back guarantee for this coin upon it's safe return, if you are not happy with your purchase, I also offer a LIFETIME money back guarantee if this coin is ever found to be Not Genuine or Historically Authentic by one of the Ebay approved coin grading services... My goal is always your happiness and confidence in purchasing my coin, in it's authenticity, numismatic and historic value! Shipment info: We usually ship within 2-3 business days after payment is cleared. Please allow up to 5-7 days for item to be delivered , Orders over USD 250.00. will be Insured. We will only ship to your registered PayPal address. Please be sure your address is correct before paying for the invoice. International fees will be determined by the eBay Global Shipping calculator for your location! International Buyers – Please Note: Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding or buying. "Frequently Asked Questions" How long until my order is shipped? : Please allow 3 business days for shipment of your order, after the receipt of payment. How will I know when the order was shipped?: After your order has shipped, I will update you with a tracking # and will leave positive feedback. After you shipped the order, how long will the mail take? USPS First Class mail takes about 3-5 business days to arrive in the U.S., international shipping times cannot be estimated as they vary from country to country. I am not responsible for any USPS delivery delays, especially for an international package. Is there a money back guarantee? I offer a 30 day money back guarantee. I stand behind this coin myself, minus shipping expenses, within 30 days from the receipt of your order. My goal is your happiness and confidence in purchasing this coin, in it's authenticity, numismatic and historic value. When should I leave feedback? Once you receive your order, please leave a positive. Please don't leave any negative feedbacks, as it happens many times that people rush to leave feedback before letting sufficient time for the order to arrive. All issues can be resolved, my integrity & reputation are very important to me!